Today, numerous Sierra Club members and staff members testified at the Public Hearing to weaken the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. The Sierra Club opposes the Trump Department of Transportation's proposal to gut emissions reductions, add more cost burdens, and destroy public health measures. Below are the comments from Chapter Executive Committee Member Mark Klinedinst and Vermont Chapter Director Robb Kidd.
Comments by Chapter Executive Committee Member Mark Klinedinst
Thank you for this chance to express my opinion. My name is Dr. Mark Klinedinst and I am an emeritus professor of economics from Vermont. I urge the Department of Transportation to not accept these proposed rule changes that take away fuel economy standards that save consumers money. Lowering standards on fuel economy will harm our neighbors and children with higher air pollution. Given that there is a global competition for producing efficient electric cars that are
mandated in many countries, we will hobble our auto and truck industries since they have few domestic incentives to ramp up production of electric cars and trucks to the scale which would allow them to reduce their costs and keep them on the frontier of innovation. On a personal note, my family purchased our first fully electric car in 2024, a Chevy Blazer EV. The pleasure of driving an electric car should not be discounted in that they are quieter and more responsive to the driver, let alone the repair and fueling costs are less. It is nice to always start your drive in the morning from a “full tank” after charging at night.
I believe it is also my duty to try and leave the world in a condition in at least as good as I was blessed with at birth. If we do not make the transition to electric transportation and continue to foul the air, we are likely to make carbon levels so high that future generations and our children will face a world wracked by stronger storms and rapidly rising sea levels.
In conclusion, taking away fuel efficiency standards means to me worse air pollution and all its health impacts, loss of our auto and truck industries' global competitiveness, raising costs for consumers for higher fuel and repair costs and lastly leaving the world worse off for our children and future generations.
Thank you for this chance to speak.
Mark Klinedinst
Comments By Chapter Director Robb Kidd
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Robb Kidd, and I am here today as an advocate for clean transportation in Vermont, and I am the Vermont Chapter Director for the Sierra Club.
I urge DOT not accept the proposed rule that takes away fuel economy standards, and that will lead to increased costs and public health risks.
Here in Vermont, we have prioritized transitioning to electric vehicles, as it is abundantly clear that the fumes from the burning of fossil fuels adversely affect human health and climate, and their costs are a major economic burden to low and moderate-income individuals.
In Vermont, we have made great progress towards clean transportation; however, as a tourist state, we are dependent on out-of-state travellers, and we can’t stop what others drive. I believe that the federal government needs to step up and mandate greater standards, not weaken them.
Vermont has a vision of being clean and green; however, inside of our downtown and village centers, emissions linger and cause significant health concerns. A family member of mine was recently diagnosed with asthma, despite never being a smoker; however, she has previously lived in more densely populated communities. I don’t know if her ailment was caused by auto emissions, but I am positive it doesn’t help.
In addition, Vermont’s current air quality has been compromised over the last few years by smoke from Canadian and Northwestern forest fires, adding even more contaminants to the air. In our Constitutional government, the government’s role is to protect the “Health and General Welfare” of its citizens. Therefore, at a time when air pollutants are increasing, it is immoral for any government agency to propose weakening rules. In my opinion, clean air is a fundamental right, and it is the government's role to protect that right. We in Vermont look to partner with the federal government to ensure measures are in place to protect, and not to make matters worse.
Fuel economy standards have improved gas mileage for millions of American vehicles, and have reduced air pollutants, and, with greater efficiency, created greater energy security. I urge DOT not accept these proposed rules, which take away fuel economy standards, and instead work to strengthen the rules. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this issue.
